Redesigned MySpace to be introduced next week

MySpace will be given a Facebooklift next week-scale redesign that will alter major components of the social-networking site. It said next Wednesday (18 June) is the big day when saddos users will be greeted with a new home page, navigation scheme, search engine and video player. "This is more than a facelift; we're changing the way people interact with the site and with brands," said the company. News Corp, which bought MySpace for $580m in 2005, said it hoped the revamp will help it attract a wider demographic because it no longer wants to be saddled with the Web 2.0-shattering perception that the site is only for teens and young adults. A deal with a major advertiser to take over the US MySpace homepage on the first day of the relaunch has been made. MySpace, the world’s most popular social-networking site, expects the changes to boost user engagement by making the site easier to navigate. MySpace is routinely criticized by users and observers for a layout that many consider visually strident and messy. Its members have many options to alter their profile pages, such as changing their background color, adding hyperactive animations, using fonts of many sizes and colors and plastering them with videos and photo slideshows.

As part of the redesign plans, MySpace has conducted surveys, performed usability tests and gathered focus groups. In addition to revamping the home page, MySpace is also changing the profile editor to make it easier for members to design and decorate their profile pages. The profile pages will also undergo renovations. Meanwhile, the search engine interface is getting a more streamlined layout, an enhanced relevancy algorithm and a tabbed results page including categories like people, MySpace site, Web, music and video. In addition, the video player is gaining new controls and support for Flash 9 full-screen mode.

Last month News Corp admitted that MySpace had missed its financial targets. The site will fall short of its annual revenue target of $1bn by 10 per cent, while third quarter revs dropped to $210m from $233m in the preceding three months. Meanwhile, MySpace’s rival Facebook is also busy these days toiling away at a major redesign of its member profile pages, which it has previewed and which it hopes to roll out at some point this month.